The ambassador of Denmark to Nigeria, Jens Ole Bach Hansen, says democracy provides the strongest foundation for peaceful, inclusive and sustainable development.

Mr Hansen made the remark in Abuja on Tuesday at a reception to celebrate the 2026 Danish Constitution Day. The ambassador said the commemoration, coming just a few days after Nigeria celebrated Democracy Day, was a reminder of the two countries’ shared belief.

“We got our first democratic constitution in 1849, and that is why we celebrate today. However, real democracy only came gradually, and women had to wait until 1915 to vote for the first time.

“Since then, Danish society has evolved into one of the world’s most peaceful, prosperous and egalitarian societies, with strong public institutions and high levels of trust. These factors consistently place Denmark among the happiest and most trustworthy countries in the world,” he said.

The ambassador also said that Denmark’s accession to the European Community in 1973 further strengthened its commitment to democracy, dialogue and cooperation.

Mr Hansen added that Denmark was proud to share its belief in democracy and democratic values with Nigeria, adding that those values must be constantly improved.

The ambassador said his country shares Nigeria’s strong belief in multilateralism, international law, and international humanitarian law.

Mr Hansen stated that Queen Mary of Denmark paid a visit to Nigeria in 2025 to launch a new cooperation on maternal health. He said the queen’s tour of Lagos and Abuja, as well as her meeting with President Bola Tinubu, left her with a strong impression of the vibrancy and energy of Nigerian society.

“Her visit underscored Denmark’s commitment to Nigeria as one of our key partners in Africa and reflected the growing importance of our bilateral relations,” added Mr Hansen. “Today, we have a broad partnership with Nigeria focused on cooperation in, among other areas, agriculture, maritime affairs and maritime security, digitalisation and tech, and people-to-people exchanges.”

Mr Hansen pointed out that Denmark would move to its “new and bigger” embassy before the end of the year, adding that it was a testimony to the country’s long-term ambitions and belief in Nigeria.

“On this Danish Constitution Day, let us celebrate not only our democratic traditions, but also the friendship between Denmark and Nigeria. Let us celebrate our shared commitment to peace, cooperation and human dignity, and our confidence in what we can achieve together in the years ahead,” he said.

(NAN)